Sunday Summary

Another week has come and gone.  Instead of last week's bullet format, listing a quick recap of my oh-so-fantabulous life, I have been moved to speak on a specific issue...teen pregnancy.  Before anyone gets too worried, no, Meaghan is not pregnant.  

Many people I know and work with think the best way to prevent teen pregnancy is to teach abstinence.  I personally feel that it would be extremely naive of me to think our children are immune to the pressures their friends and even society place upon them.  How can a young girl feel confident a boy will like her for her mind when Rihanna is proud that whips and chains excite her?  How can my daughter feel comfortable with her DD's and NOT think that's why a guy likes her when all the clothes she tries on plunge to her navel?  No, I'm afraid our society has gone way past preaching abstinence.  

While the National Center for Health Statistics says the actual number of teen births in 2010 was the lowest since 1946, it's not because kids are waiting to have sex.  It's because they are smarter about having sex.

"Young people are being more careful," says Sarah Brown, CEO of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. She attributes the decline to less sex and increased use of contraception.  Our kids won't know about contraception if we don't teach them.  

Talking about sex with my kids hasn't been easy, but I went at it head on, no mincing words, talking hard facts.  I tried very hard not to have a "preachy" tone, just informative, yet firm.  I didn't ask if they were/are/had sex; one, I didn't want to know & two, I didn't want them to have to lie.  Yes, at 15 years old, my daughter is on birth control.  She also understands that birth control does not mean disease control.  At 15 years old, my son (yes they are twins) knows how to use a condom and finds them randomly in his room, placed there by the Prophylaxis Fairy--AKA Momma.  I don't want him to be so embarrassed to ask for or buy them that he isn't safe. 

I was pregnant young, alone and scared.  I don't want that for my children.  I don't want them to struggle like I did.  I do want them to be educated about sex and have them prepared for the pressures that befall our teens today.

Please PLEASE, talk to your kids about sex, not abstinence.  Arm them properly, give them the opportunity to make safe decisions.  Their decisions won't always be wise, but they should have the information & courage to be safe.